Middleown Short Line station to be upgraded

MIDDLETOWN — After years of wrangling, an overhaul of the Middletown bus station could be in motion by summertime.

Heather Yakin

MIDDLETOWN — After years of wrangling, an overhaul of the Middletown bus station could be in motion by summertime.

"We've been working on this for about five years now," said John Daskalis, of J. Daskalis LTD Family, which owns the property. "Finally, it's coming to reality."

The project has involved several layers of government. The City of Middletown is providing some land; Orange County is acting as project manager; the state Department of Transportation will contribute funding; and Short Line and its parent company, Coach USA, will provide some engineering and furnish the new terminal. The project isn't expected to affect Coney Island, the restaurant that occupies much of the building.

At 7 p.m. Wednesday, Daskalis will go before a city Planning Board public hearing, seeking approval to expand the building for a bus terminal and to improve the flow of bus traffic on Railroad Avenue and Erie Way.

Daskalis said the project will be done in two phases. The building expansion and improvements to the existing parking lot, landscaping and drainage will come first. The new station will be about five times the current size, and will have bathrooms.

Christine Falzone, regional sales and marketing director for Short Line-Coach USA, said improvements also will include security cameras, better lighting and more seating at the station. Coach leases its Short Line terminal space and the bus parking area from Daskalis.

In addition to the terminal project, Orange County will oversee the rebuilding of the parking lot south of Erie Way, and landscaping for the section of the Heritage Trail that runs through the property, said John Czamanske, the county's deputy planning commissioner.

Mayor Marlinda Duncanson said work should start by midsummer. "It may be a little inconvenient while it's being done," she said. "But it will be an asset."